Ohio, USA —
A Nigerian graduate of Youngstown State University (YSU), Cynderila Patrick, has taken legal action against United States President Donald Trump after her student visa was abruptly revoked earlier this month, jeopardizing her future career prospects.
On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Patrick's attorney, Rhys Cartwright-Jones, filed a lawsuit against Trump's administration, arguing that the cancellation of her visa represents a serious threat to the educational investment she made in the United States.
Patrick, 36, had her visa revoked on April 8 amid an intensified crackdown on international students by the Trump administration, a move that has sparked outrage among immigrant communities and educational institutions alike.
The crackdown, sources say, often uses minor infractions, including traffic violations, as grounds to cancel foreign students’ visas — a controversial policy heavily enforced on California campuses and now increasingly nationwide.
Patrick, who currently resides in Maryland, had recently completed her master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from YSU in 2024.
She planned to secure a work permit to gain crucial professional experience in the United States — a path now under threat due to the revocation.
The lawsuit, according to a report from Cleveland.com, seeks a “temporary, preliminary, and permanent” order reinstating her visa.
Patrick also accuses the U.S. government of violating her constitutional rights by failing to provide timely notice and explanation for the visa cancellation.
“This disruption will severely hinder her ability to gain professional experience in the United States, undermine the educational investment she has made, and place her at a competitive disadvantage in her field,” Cartwright-Jones stated in the court filing.
The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi in Akron, where early hearings are expected to draw significant attention given the growing number of international students facing similar visa challenges.
Patrick’s story highlights the personal cost of the Trump administration’s hardline immigration stance. She was admitted to YSU in 2022, earning a $1,000 scholarship from Intel in 2023 for students pursuing technology careers.
An active member of both the National Society of Black Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers, Patrick had built a promising academic and professional foundation — one now at risk.
According to university officials, Patrick is not alone. At least 61 visas belonging to students from Ohio — including 14 from Youngstown State University — have been revoked as part of the federal clampdown. Nationwide, more than 1,000 international students have reportedly lost their visas under the sweeping new policy.
Patrick's lawsuit could set a major precedent for affected students nationwide, challenging the administration’s controversial strategy at a critical time for immigration policy debates in the United States.